Chapter 1: START

Erin didn't know where to go, all she had in her was the desire to get her freedom. Her desire to be free, far from her manipulative parents, out of her narrow minded family and away from her f*cked up life.

For 20 years of living, she never once do what's her passion. She never had time to relax because wherever she goes, pressure of being the next heir of her family estate is always on her shoulders.

Since Erin was a child, she's been like a good dog. Getting present every time he's being a good girl or if she improved in any of his private classes at home. It was good and fine back then, but it changed when she sneaked outside their home. She saw what the real world looks like. Erin experienced doing anything she personally liked, not just because someone ordered her to.

She tasted a bit of freedom and now she wanted more. She's been craving it for so long. That is something her parents cannot allow her to do. All they had in mind is business, how to be perfect for business, how to be on top every year.

Now, she's running away from them. Away from the prison he once called his home. Leaving the persons she called parents and burning all the responsibilities they put on his shoulders.

She's tired. Really tired, yet she can't afford to be mad.

"H-Hello? I-Is.. Is anyone who can.. help me here?" she yelled at her best while panting. She ran so fast to mislead the bodyguards chasing her.

Shr found this mansion inside the forest not too far from their home but even though he got to sneak out once, she's pretty sure there weren't any mansion like this.

Her body is trembling and she's soaked in saw sweat. Her breathing became heavy as her eyelids started to block his eyes, she's getting sleepy and she doesn't know why.

Just when Erin is about to pass out, a cold hand caught her in the neck and pinned her on the mansion's wall. Erin barely held the stranger's hand on her neck that slowly stopped her from breathing. She wanted to fight back but the dizziness was slowly hitting him. She doesn't know what's happening to her body but a breath on her neck is all she can feel before closing her eyes.

***

Erin woke up with an unfamiliar scent and a strange feeling that someone was glaring at her.

"ARGH!"

A loud bang made her jump in her bed— in someone's bed rather. She tried to stand up but a heavy feeling was pulling her back to the soft fabric. It smell strange but nice, she just can't figure out where the hell is she. All she can remember is she passed out and.. someone grabbed her on the neck.

Erin quickly covered her neck with her bare hands, feeling the warmth emanating from her palm. She didn't find anything strange around it. She continues touching it to find if there's some bruise, but there's none.

Another loud bang made her jump in surprise then a loud groan. It sends shivers down her spine to hear what it sounds like.

Like someone is being tortured brutally.

Due to her curiosity, she slowly opens the door and another spacious living room greets him. She saw no one there, only a few things that were too old. Some of it was covered with spider's web and dust. Maybe the one living here doesn't know how to clean, the house almost looks haunted!

"Leave me alone!" There, the same voice strikes again. She perks her head upstairs.

This mansion is giving him a heavy feeling she doesn't want to bear.

Another thud made him stumble in stairs, good thing he grip onto the railings and supported herself. She followed where the voice was coming and reached two big doors. Erin hesitated for a while before finally opening the door with all her strength.

Her eyes widened to see a guy bleeding.

Hid arms are covered with blood, his head is also bleeding and had a lot of bruises.

"A-Are you okay?" she asks, something is stopping him from going near the guy because he looks so dangerous. Looks like anytime he could kill. The only thing that is holding Erin is, this guy brings her to sleep. Particularly, this guy helped her. "H-Hel—"

"How did you get in here?" The guy snarled and Erin wanted to run away but suddenly, she couldn't move her feet. Like she was stuck in her place.

"I heard you.. shouting.." Erin starts to tremble when the man slowly gets up, not really minding the bruises and blood coming out from his body.

It hurt so bad in Erin’s eyes so how the hell can this guy take this kind of physical pain?

"I said how did you get here?" the guy asks again and Erin is growing irritated but scared.

"I said I-I heard y—"

Erin choked on her saliva when the man suddenly appeared in front of her and held her neck– again. It was the same feeling as yesterday.

"Lie to me again human and I won't spare your life the second time."

Erin didn't know why he's not believing her, but that's not his concern right now. He can't breathe and this guy is literally killing him!

"L-Let me go!" she pushed him with all her power, she succeeded when he stumbled on the ground holding neck.

Erin coughed countless times and breathed in and breathed out before she had the courage to stand up and give the man a punch.

She did.

But he didn't even flinch. It was Erin who hurt herself, the guy's face is tough!

"Sht!" she hissed in pain and saw her knuckles bleeding. He got some mild bruises from running away.  "Y-You! What the --" 

The guy pinned him on the wall. Holding both her wrist up her head and staring at her eyes. Erin can only see a pair of dark irises while looking up, it was incredibly intimidating and downright unsettling. She tried to escape but the man's grip tightened around her hands, making her unable to move. 

"Who are you?" his voice again, it was rough and husky.

But Erin didn't answer, she's scared as hell but if she doesn't fight back, this man will surely beat her up.

Just when she's about to duck the guy's head, she saw how his pupils dilated. His body stiffened and nose scrunched, smelling something before a sly smile appeared on the man's lips.